Hill has the edge in experience

Oct. 12, 2012

Robert Hill

REBUTTALS

The new District 7 in the Florida House of Representatives is a monster, sprawling across 10 counties, from Lafayette and Madison counties on the east to Calhoun and Gulf counties on the west, even taking a slice of Leon County along the way.

The challenge of representing the state’s largest district will go to a freshman — either Democrat Robert Hill or Republican Halsey Beshears.

We recommend Robert Hill.

By registration numbers only, Democrats have the edge in District 7. But the district covers rural areas that hold conservative values, and in truth there is very little to separate the candidates on the big issues.

Both believe in freeing businesses to create jobs. On the current crisis in the Franklin and Wakulla county seafood industry, both advocate doing a lot of listening before acting. Both support raises for state workers, though Mr. Beshears stresses that he would support them only if cuts were made elsewhere. Mr. Beshears rejects the idea of enforcing the Internet sales tax, while Mr. Hill wonders how it could be collected. Both stress home rule on compensating teachers and support the rights of gun owners, and they agree that environmental regulation should start at the local level.

The big difference is in style and experience.

Mr. Hill, a grandfather, has a long resume of community service. He is now the county administrator and clerk of court in Liberty County (he resigned both jobs, effective Nov. 5, to run for the House). He also has been the schools superintendent in Liberty County, was a schoolteacher for 25 years, and is involved in many community activities.

He speaks in soft, measured tones and obviously puts careful thought into what he says.

Mr. Beshears, a political newcomer who works at a family nursery in Jefferson County and is the father of three young girls, is a man of odd humor and few words. He has been known to answer a question at a candidate forum by walking to the microphone and saying “Yes.” In the endorsement interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, he displayed a marked lack of interest, and his clipped replies put great faith in listening to seafood workers, listening to business people and listening to teachers.

But what would he do? Mr. Beshears has been a money-raising machine, so there is strong support out there for him. In all honesty, we just don’t get it.